June 14/07 11:35 am - Tour de PEI: Stage 5 & Final GC

Posted by Editoress on 06/14/07

Tour de PEIReport Courtesy Organization

Diana Ziliute, from team Safi Pasta Zara Manhattan, took home the top prize in the first edition of the Tour de PEI. The 31 year old Lithuanian won the tour with a 1 minute 19 second lead over Russian cyclist Alexandra Burchenkova (Russian National Team) and 1 minute 22 seconds over Australian Olivia Gollan (Menikini - Selle Italia - Gysko).

The final stage, a criterium around the Confederation Centre of the Arts in downtown Charlottetown, was won by Italian Giorgia Bronzini. Australian Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini - Selle Italia - Gysko) came in second, followed by Elena Novikova from Russia. With this win, Giorgia Bronzini was able to also capture the sprinter and points jerseys. Swiss Annette Beutler held onto the Queen of the Mountain jersey, points were given on the two previous stages.

The energetic crowd of 7,000 spectators - a very impressive turnout for this small island with a population of 140,000 - cheered on the 77 athletes as they raced around the 1 kilometre circuit 50 times.

Michel Le Chasseur (General Manager of the Confederation Bridge) and Daniel Manibal (also organizer of the Montreal WomenÃ¢â‚¬Å¡s World Cup Cycling and Tour du Grand Montreal) were extremely satisfied with the tremendous work that has been done. "My hat is off to all the volunteers, sponsors and employees involved in this organisation", says Michel Le Chasseur. "The welcoming of the population was incredible, the scenery was unbelievable and the athletes were thrilled by the quality of this event", continues M. Manibal.